“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” host Jimmy Kimmel is still facing backlash from conservatives after attempting to clarify his remarks about the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
Tuesday marked Kimmel’s first show since Disney reinstated him following a nearly weeklong suspension. The late-night host addressed, but did not apologize for, the comments that led to his removal from the air.
“I’ve been hearing a lot about what I need to say and do tonight, and the truth is, I don’t think what I have to say is going to make much of a difference,” Kimmel said. “If you like me, you like me. If you don’t, you don’t. I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind. But I want to make something clear, because it’s important to me as a human, and that is – you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man.”
Kimmel grew emotional as he noted he had posted a message of support to Kirk’s family the day of his death.
“Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions,” he continued. “It was a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make, but I understand that, to some, it felt either ill-timed or unclear or maybe both, and for those who think I did point a finger, I get why you’re upset. If the situation was reversed, there’s a good chance I would have felt the same way.”
Jimmy Kimmel's full monologue tonight pic.twitter.com/sZI6uouUAd
— Marlow Stern (@MarlowNYC) September 24, 2025
Last Monday, however, Kimmel appeared to falsely suggest the alleged assassin was a MAGA supporter, saying: “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
On Tuesday, he attempted to shift tone: “I didn’t feel the alleged killer represents anyone. This was a sick person who believed violence was a solution, and it isn’t, ever.”
Kimmel’s clarification did little to calm critics. Andrew Kolvet, a close friend of Kirk and executive producer of his show, called the remarks “not good enough” and offered Kimmel advice on how to properly apologize.
Not good enough. Jimmy, it’s simple. Here’s what you need to say:
“I’m sorry for saying the shooter was MAGA. He was not. He was of the left. I apologize to the Kirk family for lying. Please accept my sincere apology. I will do better. I was wrong.” https://t.co/YIR7JeFLIh
— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) September 24, 2025
Jack Posobiec mocked him as “Jimmy ‘The Martyr’ Kimmel,” accusing the host of “fake crying” and manipulation.
Look at Jimmy ‘The Martyr’ Kimmel fake crying tonight
Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender
DARVO playbook
This is what they do
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) September 24, 2025
Benny Johnson, founder of TPUSA Productions, branded Kimmel a “sick liar.”
Jimmy Kimmel’s exact words…
7 Days Ago: ‘the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than ONE OF THEM.’
Today: ‘I don't think the murderer who shot Charlie Kirk represents ANYONE.’
Sick Liar.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 24, 2025
Actor Rob Schneider, in a lengthy post on X, blasted what he called Kimmel’s “semi-apology.”
“The suspension you justly received last week was for FALSELY ACCUSING, MAGA and Republicans ‘one of their own’ you said, for the murder of our friend Charlie Kirk when it was in fact just another in the long line of Murderous Leftist Lunatics who killed Charlie, who get their inspiration to kill from YOUR DANGEROUS LEFTIST RHETORIC,” Schneider wrote.
Dear Jimmy Kimmel,
In your semi-apology tonight,
you LIED AGAIN.You were not making “light” of Mr. Kirk’s death.
The suspension you justly received last week was for FALSELY ACCUSING,
MAGA and Republicans “one of their own” you said, for the murder of our friend Charlie Kirk…— Rob Schneider 🇺🇸 (@RobSchneider) September 24, 2025
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